Atletico Madrid in last eight

MADRID. — Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hailed his side’s belief as they edged out a brave effort from PSV Eindhoven to reach the Champions League soccer quarter-finals 8-7 in an agonising penalty shootout on Tuesday night.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock across 210 minutes of the two-legged tie.

However, Atletico were clinical from the spot as they converted all of their penalties with Juanfran slotting home the winner after Luciano Narsingh hit the crossbar with PSV’s eighth attempt.

“It was an enormous celebration for the whole stadium,” said Simeone.

“The spectacle you see in the stands was tremendous. We won’t ever stop believing, that is for sure.”

It is the second consecutive season that Atletico have progressed to the last eight on penalties after overcoming Bayer Leverkusen in similar fashion last season. Yet, despite Atletico’s spectacular efficiency from the spot, Simeone insisted they hadn’t practised penalties beforehand.

And he said the credit should go to his assistant German Burgos for deciding which players should take the responsibility. — AFP.